News & Events

Congratulations to Mr Damian Antenucci on receiving the Order of Australia Medal (OAM) for service to secondary education. A most enormous recognition and most appropriate.
Damian taught at Kilmara College from 1977 to 1987, where he was the Director and Producer of School Musicals.
Since 1988, he has taught here at St Paul’s College, fulfilling many roles including: Head of Senior School, Head of Pastoral Care, Director and Producer of School Musicals, Coach of Badminton and the First 18 Football team, and mathematics teacher. These are only some of the ways Damian has served our community!
Damian was also a founding member of St Paul’s Old Scholars Football Club in 1992. Since that time, he has been Treasurer, President, and Coach.
As we know, old scholars remember Damian fondly and he is greatly admired by his colleagues. He has been a wonderful contributor to Catholic Education since 1977, and this honour is very well deserved.
 

On-track for Online

Since our last College newsletter, a fortnight ago, we have lived the exceptional beauty of ‘diversity’, one of our four values at St Paul’s College.

National Reconciliation Week was most pivotal in our community’s ongoing commitment to genuine Reconciliation. Additionally, we have celebrated Carnevale as our Italian language program came to life. Only two weeks, and so much to show for.

While we live our commitment to relationship and respect for diversity each day, social media continues to challenge this commitment when we seek the worst of ourselves and others. For its many benefits, we also understand that criticism and negativity feed on social media, the standard communication for society, and yet a challenging medium to navigate for young people as the grow up, learn about themselves and establish their identity.

Often families and staff alike are supporting young people with challenging behavioral choices made online and on social media. Education about online safety and positive online behaviors, is something that the classroom and society must continue to prioritise.

In doing so, we must have forthright conversations with young people and ensure transparency if they are using online applications and social media.

Social Media Resource – Helping parents with an enormous task!

Recently, I have worked with Tasmin London, Executive Director of ySafe. Yasmin and ySafe are especially helpful in their diverse approach to this complex issue of online safety.

Their website is an ‘Online Safety Hub’ and unlike so many other websites that address online safety, it provides clear and concise information:

“Children today are growing up in an increasingly online world and it's essential that we are doing all that we can to support and guide their digital journey. The Online Safety Hub supports the school community by providing practical insights and advice directly from internationally-renowned Online Safety & Digital Wellness Experts.” – ySafe Website.

The website can be accessed HERE and I urge all member of our community to explore this amazing resource, particularly:

• The guides and practical suggestions for any parent wanting to help their child be safe online: Click here for ySafe parents' guide
• The review of online applications/programs, which clearly explains many popular programs that young people use and their risks, alongside helpful information about who and why they are used:  Click here for ySafe app-reviews

Knowing that families and schools can’t assist young people with online safety unless we know about what and how they are engaging online, here is one example of the ‘known risks’ for an applications/programs available on the ySafe website – this example is for TikTok.

As we work hard to support our young people, let’s also use the valuable resources available to us. I urge you to visit the ySafe Website and discuss it with your family/child. Above all, let’s keep working together for the safety of our young people, including online safety.

Please engage our staff wherever we may assist your young person (or your family) with resources or conversation that may help us navigate the online challenges we share. Above all, please speak openly and honestly with your young person(s) and share their online presence.

Josh Foulis
Acting Principal 

Next week, the College and our Nation celebrates National Reconciliation Week. ‘Be a Voice for Generations’ is the theme for national reconciliation Week in 2023 and that theme is echoed by our annual College them of ‘Empowering Voices’.

National Reconciliation Week runs from 27 May until 3 June and it is a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia.

At St Paul’s College, we continually acknowledge and respect the Kaurna people whose land we share and who have a most exceptional and ongoing story that can educate our practices, policies, relationships and people. But first, we must commit to understanding and reconciliation.

Throughout National Reconciliation Week, our College will participate in several ways and students will be invited to partake in many activities, including a whole-school assembly that starts with a smoking ceremony and welcome to country on Monday morning to begin the week.

Just as students will be increasing their focus on understanding and reconciliation during NRW, I urge you to seek every opportunity to discuss the week and its theme with your young person(s).

Update on Edmund Rice Education Australia (EREA)

As you will have noted in previous communications, EREA have undertaken significant change to governance structures. While this may not obviously impact the daily undertaking in our school community, the close work that we do with our governing body is exceptionally supportive and greatly assist our College as a Catholic College in the Edmund Rice Tradition.

Now governed by EREA Colleges Ltd, we extend a warm welcome from St Paul’s College to Mr Chris Woolley as the CEO of EREA Colleges Ltd. Following his appointment in February, Chris started in this position last week and his leadership will enormously benefit our College and likewise the many communities within EREA Colleges Ltd.

Chris is a senior executive with 25 years’ experience in management, education, law and policy in both the private and public sectors. He comes to EREA from Queensland Catholic Education Commission, where he was most recently the Acting Executive Director, and substantively the Chief Operating Officer and Company Secretary since 2016. Chris has broad experience in a faith-based setting, with work focused on mission and identity. Chris also brings significant leadership experience in complex strategy, governance, and assurance functions.

Chris is obviously excited for his journey that includes great support for our community:

 “I look forward to serving and leading in a system setting and working directly with a wonderful network of colleges, people and communities across Australia. This new role enables me to build on a special connection with EREA, with my father, uncles, brothers, myself, and my sons all having had the opportunity to attend Catholic schools founded in the Edmund Rice tradition. I am privileged and humbled to serve EREA as it renews its commitment to governance structures and processes which best support its school communities.”

Chris looks forward to visiting St Paul’s College for the first time in June.

High Expectations – attending always and on time

As outlined in the College’s Our Common Ground, respectful relationships set the foundation for our lives at St Paul’s College. For this reason, respect needs to be central for every student, staff member and family and there are very simple ways to show a commitment to respect that can easily improve outcomes.

Perhaps the easiest way to demonstrate respect and commit to success is by ensuring that students attend always, and on time. Attendance and punctuality may seem trivial or assumed, but we know that as winter creeps in and the year grows longer, there is a risk to be late to school/class and perhaps even a risk to attendance.

Simply reminding ourselves that the only we to be successful at school is to be at school, motivates us to prioritise attendance. By extension, being punctual leads to success because it shows others and ourselves that we are committed to learning and committed to the community – we care.

Students and families are reminded that attendance and punctuality are absolutely demanded of students (and likewise staff), with thanks for prioritising these as obvious signs of respect and commitment.

Josh Foulis
Acting Principal 

In my privileged opportunity to serve as Acting Principal this Term, I welcome you to Term 2 as we consolidate and deepen our learning, and progress our commitment to excellence, one of our four values at St Paul’s College.

Edmund Rice Day celebrations to begin our term were a fitting reminder of our global partnerships as one of hundreds of Edmund Rice Communities around the world. Our Principal Paul Belton celebrated Edmund Rice Day in the homeland of our Founder, Blessed Edmund Rice, alongside Principals and Leaders from each Edmund Rice community worldwide, as part of the Edmund Rice Education Beyond Borders (EREBB) Congress.

Celebrating Blessed Edmund Rice reminds us that we are called to support one another in an inclusive community, where everybody can achieve excellence. Irrespective of who you are or where you come from, you deserve the opportunity to achieve excellence.

During our staff’s Professional Learning on Day 1 of Term 2 (student-free day), I outlined and specified what excellence must look like for our staff, if our students are to achieve excellence.

As outlined in the framework below, the challenge is to achieve excellence from students by being accountable, reminding ourselves that as staff at St Paul’s, we are choosing to give ourselves to this community, committing to collaboration between staff, and knowing that excellence is owed to our students and families. Informing how we achieve this important work is Jesus’ Mission outlined in the Gospel, the work of our founder Blessed Edmund Rice, and essential educational documents from secular/regulatory bodies and our Church.

In an opening assembly to Secondary students, I instead discussed excellence from their perspective, where trying for excellence offers an unacceptable excuse. Instead, it is our responsibility to find ways of achieving excellence for ourselves; this might be asking more/different questions, spending more time with the right people, undertaking additional study, appreciating the value of learning especially when we find it challenging.

The framework below summarises the need for students to prioritise excellence in Term 2 by ensuring their achievement, being accountable to themselves and their decisions (what they say and do, and knowing we can’t be accountable for what others say or do), being respectful to self and others and our environment, while also taking and making opportunities throughout the term ahead.

Throughout the remaining weeks of Semester 1, let us all consider what excellence needs to mean for ourselves and be challenged to achieve excellence (not merely try for excellence). Through this, we strengthen our sense of self and answer Blessed Edmund Rice’s call to realise our best for ourselves and our community.

Finally, I add welcome to the following staff who join our welcoming community in Term 2:

Bobby Vincent, ESO supporting Inclusive Education in Years 7-12
Anthea McCallum, ESO supporting Inclusive Education in Years 7-12
Brandon Jackson-Martin, First Nations Mentor and ESO
Hamish Morelli, Teacher in Years 7-12 and Counsellor
Stanislaw Domiszewski, Teacher R-12 supporting via Temporary Relief work each day

I wish you every achievement in the Term ahead and as always, please contact the College wherever we may be able to assist you, your child, or your family. 

Josh Foulis
Acting Principal

Dear Families and friends of St Paul’s,

We are in week 10 of Term 1 and the most holy and significant of our Catholic calendar – Holy Week.

Holy Week starts with Palm Sunday, the celebration of Jesus triumphant return to Jerusalem. How magnificent that must have been to see and hear crowds of people not only welcome this very special person but for them to believe Him to be their long awaited saviour. All of us need a saviour at various times in our lives, someone we have absolute trust and confidence in, someone we can share our most personal and vulnerable traits with. There is no doubt that we need a living colleague for that, but as a people of faith we have also the utmost confidence that we always have our God to rely on for the same reason.

From the immense joy and celebration of Palm Sunday we move into the wonderful celebration of the Last Supper on Thursday. Here Jesus makes the eternal promise to be with us whenever we need him – “Where two or more are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” We also remember the breaking of the bread, the sharing of the meal, another powerful symbol of friendship, love, and family. Who do you invite to your table? People we share meals with are special to us and it bonds families and friends alike together. We have this opportunity every Sunday, in community with those who are like-minded and share this great belief.

Good Friday, while horrible in its actions of the crucifixion is the acknowledgement of the ultimate sacrifice Jesus made for us all and when we combine that with the celebration of the resurrection on Easter Sunday, we have the most perfect celebration and recognition of hope. As Catholics we must be people of hope. As a Catholic school we must not only preach but practice hope, on a daily basis. Our world is too full of scenarios of hopelessness and we have an obligation to try to turn that around.

On behalf of our committed staff I would like to offer all our families a most happy, hope-filled, and holy Easter. May the joys of the resurrection fill you all with great hope and love for God and each other.

The fact that our Catholic celebrations coincide with the very significant Muslim season of Ramadan adds even more beauty to the multi-faith and multicultural community we share here at St Paul’s.

Term 2 Staffing

After the easter break we only have a short four-day week before concluding Term 1. There are a number of staffing arrangements I need to let you know about.

Firstly, and most importantly I need to let you know that after 36 years of extremely dedicated service to the St Paul’s community Mr Mark Ryan has decided to move on into the next chapter of his life. Mark has held many different positions at the College and has been a beacon of care and compassion for the students. We wish Mark and his family every happiness and success in the future and we thank him most sincerely for his service to the St Paul’s community.

In the first few weeks of the term the international Edmund Rice family will be holding a congress in Dublin, Ireland. Most of the 220+ principals from our schools around the world, will gather to both celebrate what we do in Edmund’s name but also plan as to how we can continue to make a positive difference to our world. I will be going to this and then having some extended time away from the College to recharge my batteries!

In my place Mr Josh Foulis will be Principal and Mr Joe Hicks will be Deputy Principal. I’m sure both the staff, and the whole community will support Josh and Joe in these important roles. With Joe stepping up into the Deputy role, Mrs Maria Girolamo-Corbo will become our APRIM and Mr Matthew Stramare will take on Maria’s role as Religious Identity Leader in the Middle Years.

Our Music and Performance Coordinator, Ms Libby Verrall, will also be taking long service leave in Term 2. Her music classes will be taken by Mr Drew Akin, while her other responsibilities will be shared by Drew and Mr Victor Oria.

We will also welcome back, Messer Walter Chatindiara, Paul Kemp and Grant Howarth from long service leave.

It has been a very fast-moving and activity-filled term. So many wonderful experiences occur every day here at St Paul’s and we have so much to be grateful for. I hope all students, staff and families have a very restful holiday break and a great Term 2.

God Bless

Paul Belton

Dear Families and friends of St Paul’s,

Week 8 of the term has been a significant mixture of events and celebrations at St Paul’s. Then again, as you all know, that is very much what it is like every week!

You would have all heard, seen, or read about Harmony Week in the news. This is a wonderful opportunity for the whole of society to celebrate Australia’s great diversity of cultures and to acknowledge the positive impact each and everyone has had on who our country has become.

St Paul’s College has, at its heart and one of our core values, Diversity, and Edmund Rice education have Inclusive Community as one of its Touchstones. This means we live harmony week and harmony day regularly, hopefully, every week and day. What this week does allow us to do however is to more formally celebrate the beautiful diversity that exists within our community. These celebrations are many and varied and certainly very well accepted by both students and staff alike.

This week also contained the International Day of Happiness and on Tuesday World Down Syndrome Day. Our primary years in particular were keen to raise awareness of Down Syndrome, so everyone was invited to wear their most eye-catching socks. They were mismatched socks and peoples’ craziest and most colourful socks, but ‘Lots of Socks’ is a celebration that makes all of us different, and yet the same! 

NAPLAN Week

The very much talked about, discussed, debated and argued about NAPLAN tests were conducted this week. We acknowledge several things in this regard. Firstly, we acknowledge that any form of test or exam can bring with it some forms of anxiety for students, and even parents and staff! Secondly, we believe as a college that these tests are exactly that, just a test, just one measure of what any of our students are capable of. We know that these tests are not the be-all and end-all of all achievements and measurements. We look at them as providing us with some information that can assist us in helping students by knowing which areas require additional support. 

Given there are over 40 different languages spoken in our family homes we know that English is not the first, not second or third in some cases, language our families know and understand so we use this data to make sure we provide the very best support we can. Thirdly, however, we do expect that the students, with the support of families, take the tests seriously, give their best and allow other students to do the same. We all need to continually try to be the very best we can be, our most excellent selves and NAPLAN is another opportunity for that to be put into practice.

RAMADAN

Adding to our diversity and harmony-focused activities this week, we would also like to acknowledge the beginning of RAMADAN for our Muslim families. Like LENT for all Catholics RAMADAN is enormously important to them as a time of prayer and fasting. We offer our support and join with them in prayer throughout this time. I know Mr. Hicks is working with some of our senior Muslim students to make they have some time, space and opportunity to practice the prayerful components of their faith.

Take Care and God Bless
Mr Paul Belton

Dear Families,

The development of life-long leadership skills is one of the learning opportunities offered to all students at St Paul’s College. Having effective student leaders supports the development of our College’s core values outlined in Our Common Ground. The leadership journey for our Year 6 students started last week where they were acknowledged at our Primary Years assembly and received their Student Leaders Badge. This week, I have great pleasure in announcing our Year 6 Student Leadership Team for 2023:

Community and Faith Ambassadors

• Luke F, Nimit L, Sophia P and Logan P

Academic Ambassadors

• Ridhi K and Tyler N

Wellbeing Ambassadors

• Saxon D and Summer Z

House Captains

• Dally – Ansh S
• Gleeson – Venesa P
• Marlow – Angong Y
• Nagle – Mihan B
• O’Loughlin – Sienna G

Ms Samantha Stokes (Head of Wellbeing) and Ms Miranda McGlaughlin (Leader of Catholic Identity) were involved in leading the Student Leadership interview process. Our Student Leaders have committed to uphold the core values of the College – Faith, Relationships, Excellence and Diversity, through modelling respectful and responsible behaviour to the best of their ability. Ms Stokes will meet with the Student Leaders regularly to guide them in activities that will benefit the whole Primary Years community.

We also acknowledge and congratulate our Reception-Year 5 Student Voice Representatives (SVR) from each class.  Ms Stokes will be working closely with these students with their important role in identifying issues, and building skills and knowledge that lead to action in the areas our students care most about.

Our Reception to Year 5 SVR are:

• Reception Barone – Hartaj S
• Reception Romeo – Larrah A
• Year 1 McGlaughlin/Benneti – Esther R
• Year 1 Burton – Chloe L
• Year 2 Theodoulou/Benetti – Gurfateh S
• Year 2 Stavropoulos – Lucas V
• Year 3 Hayward – Georgina B
• Year 3 Bennett – Thiago D
• Year 4 Jones/Barone – Briella V
• Year 4 Thoday – Divit S
• Year 5 Anthony – Collin P
• Year 5 Costanzo – Manreet K

Wednesday was International Women’s Day.  Our Year 9 girls led a beautiful Whole School Liturgy acknowledging and celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women globally, with the theme #EmbraceEquity. It was also a beautiful example of these young women modelling, to the students in our Primary Years, just how courageous they are in taking on this Leadership role within our College community. I am proud each and every day to be an educator and leader at St Paul’s. Let’s continue to champion equity, respect and inclusion for all of us, regardless of gender.

Take care.

Marianne Loftus
Head of Primary Years
2023 - Empowering Voices

Dear Families and friends of St Paul’s,

Week 6 term 1 already, how can we possibly slow all this time down? Week 6, like all weeks of a school year is full of activity, learning, and adventures. Our year 8 cohort has been away on camp and although the weather has not been perfect we are sure that they are all having a great time. From the stories of the first half returners on Wednesday it was a memorable experience.

I believe one of the greatest challenges schools have always faced, and what is even more important now in such an ever-changing world, is to try to prepare students for their life beyond school. While academic achievement is important the necessity to be good people, resilient characters and emerging adults who understand life is not always about themselves, but rather great love and happiness comes from within when we give of ourselves to others.

This week I was extremely fortunate to hear from an outside external provider of St Paul’s one of the best compliments we have ever received. We were discussing the many and varied options students have as they progress through the secondary years – University, TAFE, VET courses, Apprenticeships etc. The compliment came after we were discussing the notion of what is “cutting edge” in terms of education right now. In her opinion, enabling every student to be encouraged to follow their dreams, their own specific pathway, and to be supported in that is actually “cutting edge". The best part was she said, she knew this is what St Paul’s is already doing and what we are really good at. How nice is that? Combine this with another recent compliment at our School, Advisory Council “word on the street is that we are awesome at caring for the students through our pastoral care structures". These comments are so wonderful and to be honest, I could not have wished for better. It is such a credit to all our staff, teaching and non-teaching who are so friendly and welcoming, always showing genuine care for the students and families. I am sure Edmund Rice, Br Dally, and all our predecessors would agree. We have a great deal to be proud of here at St Paul’s but we also remain committed to continuous improvement and the pursuit of excellence in all we do.

Parents and Friends – Inclusive Community

This week we held another Parents and Friends meeting. It was very much a “changing of the guard” meeting where Ms Felicity Bylhouwer handed in her final letter of resignation after six or seven years of formidable service to the community. Both Felicity and Ms Bec Verrall have been the stalwarts of this group for several years and have been absolutely wonderful in their support of the College. We thank them sincerely for their great passion for the college. As we are now growing and more able to fund many of the projects we have not been able to before, the nature of the parents and friends provide can change from a group that raised much needed funds for the College to one that has more of a community building focus. One of our EREA Touchstones is Inclusive Community and we believe that through an active Parents and Friends structure we can reach out even more to our families, especially those who may struggle to communicate with us and us with them.

Please if any parents are wanting or are willing to join this group please let us know, via the front office, our DP Josh Foulis, or email to kcasey@stpauls.sa.edu.au

International Women’s Day

This week we also celebrated International Women’s Day and not only had a beautiful liturgy in our Pastoral Care lesson but also celebrated the amazing work done by our wonderful and very committed female staff members. We are who we are at St Paul’s because of the great sense of community we have and our female staff add enormously to that great sense of family we have.

Cocurricular Recognition

It must be the week of good news, but you can never get enough of that. After Saturday’s round of cocurricular events, we were delighted to receive an email from a teacher of Rostrevor who took the time to write about how terrific our year 8/9 cricket team was. It said:

“I just wanted to let you know how impressed I was with the St Paul's boys. They were friendly, well-mannered and played with a really positive and encouraging team spirit. They represented themselves and the school in an exemplary manner and it was noticed by both myself and the parents from Rostrevor.”

Our thanks must go to our coach Mr Michael Szczpanik (Oliver’s dad) and Mrs Maria Gibson our staff member and manager for their encouragement of the boys and for upholding such terrific values.

It has been a terrific week or so for the College.

Take care, God Bless

Mr Paul Belton 

Dear Friends of St Paul’s

This week we begin the most important time in our Catholic calendar – Lent. This season is not only important in itself, but more so because it culminates in the celebration of Easter Sunday, the resurrection of Jesus and the ultimate symbol of sacrifice and hope.

On Wednesday we held two Ash Wednesday Liturgies, one for the Senior School and one for the Junior School. Both were very beautiful celebrations and all our students were particularly reverent throughout. This is credit to our Catholic Identity Team of Mr Joe Hicks, Mrs Maria Girolamo-Corbo and Ms Mirada McGlaughlin. Our students clearly understand the significance of this season and also that it is a time to not only give something up and give to those less fortunate than ourselves but also to undertake actions that enhance the respect we have for each other.

Academic Assembly

Last Thursday we held our Academic Assembly, where we celebrated the many successes of our Graduating Class of 2022. Not only were our academic achievements outstanding and the best they have been for a number of years but we also had a great deal of success in assisting students transfer from schooling into various trades. 

Definitely the highlights of the assembly were the presentations of our 2022 Dux, Lucas Sacca and old scholar Mr Chris Edge (prominent lawyer and current Chair of our School Advisory Council.) Both men were outstanding in how they reflected on their positive experiences at St Paul’s and inspirational in their message of perseverance, determination, and faith. As we have said often, we have so much of which to be proud at St Paul’s and this extends across the entire history of the College.

College Tours and Enrolment Interviews 2024 and 2025.

Over the last week we have also held more College Tours and Enrolment Interviews. We are receiving so many enrolment enquiries and visitors for tours that we have had to split the tours into Primary and Secondary, while asking all our senior leaders to both attend those and assist us with the interviews. We have the absolute pleasure of meeting so many wonderful prospective students and families and yet also know that over the next few years we will not be able to fit everyone in.

If current families have younger siblings or know of friends who would like to attend St Paul’s it is absolutely necessary that they get their applications and enrolment forms into the College at least two years prior to the actual starting date.

Primary Picnic

I know Mrs Marianne Loftus has mentioned the Primary picnic in her article, but I wanted to add both my thanks and appreciation of all the students, staff and families who attended. It was a lovely occasion and another welcome opportunity for our community to spend more quality time together.

Take care, God Bless

Mr Belton